Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Mimik/mienenspiel
English translation:
facial expressions
Added to glossary by
Rachel Ward
Sep 5, 2007 10:51
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
United Kingdom
For the Love of Language
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
Mimikspiel
German to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Fantasy novel
This is another slightly idiosyncratic use of language as far as I can see. Trouble is, if I use an odd word, it makes me look like a rubbish translator!
"Mit strengen, prüfenden Augen sah der Fürst den Anführer seiner Leibgarde an. Warrhard hielt dem Blick ohne weiteres stand und musterte seinerseits das Gesicht und die Körperhaltung des Fürsten auf mögliche Regungen oder Veränderungen in dessen Stimmungsbild. Des Fürsten **Mimikspiel** war von jeher schwer zu durchschauen. Kaum jemand vermochte seine Stimmungen richtig einzuschätzen."
"Mit strengen, prüfenden Augen sah der Fürst den Anführer seiner Leibgarde an. Warrhard hielt dem Blick ohne weiteres stand und musterte seinerseits das Gesicht und die Körperhaltung des Fürsten auf mögliche Regungen oder Veränderungen in dessen Stimmungsbild. Des Fürsten **Mimikspiel** war von jeher schwer zu durchschauen. Kaum jemand vermochte seine Stimmungen richtig einzuschätzen."
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +4 | facial expressions |
Steffen Walter
|
| 2 +3 | countenance |
Paul Cohen
|
| 4 | facial expression(s), play of features |
Eckhard Boehle
|
| 4 -1 | mime performance |
Katarina Peters
|
| 3 | poker face |
David Moore (X)
|
Change log
Sep 5, 2007 10:57: Steffen Walter changed "Field" from "Other" to "Art/Literary"
May 12, 2009 15:49: Rachel Ward Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+4
7 mins
Steffen Walter
Germany
Germany
Native in German
Germany
Top-Notch Service | Direct Clients Only
Native in: German (Variant: Germany) 
Works in: English to German, German to English, French to German, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
19
Selected
facial expressions
Slightly awkward German indeed - the author should have used either "Mimik" or "Mienenspiel".
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I like countenance too, but I'll go for this one. Thanks Steffen."
+3
6 mins
Paul Cohen
Greenland
Greenland
Native in English
Works in field
Greenland
Will work for blubber
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Danish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
26
countenance
Perhaps?
countenance = appearance, especially the expression of the face
A literary word for "poker face" or "body language"???
countenance = appearance, especially the expression of the face
A literary word for "poker face" or "body language"???
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Steffen Walter
: I suspect that the author wanted to use "Mimik" or "Mienenspiel" and merged the two. / Perhaps ;-) (but body language would rather be "Gestik" in my opinion) / I also suspect that the author merged the two terms mistakenly/inadvertently.
1 min
|
|
Yes, like mixing "body language" and "facial expression" to get "body expression"? ;-) / "facial language"? Yes, very true. The author was mixing and matching - and probably getting a little mixed up.
|
|
| agree |
Henry Schroeder
: And emphasizes the "appearance" that could be mistaken
1 hr
|
|
Along the lines of "appearances can be deceiving" - especially when our lord liege is wearing his usual enigmatic poker face?
|
|
| agree |
mill2
5 hrs
|
15 mins
Eckhard Boehle
Germany
Germany
Native in German
Germany
experienced - thorough - reliable - fast
Native in: German
Works in: English to German, German to English, German
Related KudoZ points
:
4
facial expression(s), play of features
"Mimikspiel" indeed is rather unusual, but "Mienenspiel" is a quite common synonym to "Mimik".
So I recommend either "facial expression" or "play of features".
cf.:
http://www.dict.cc/englisch-deutsch/facial expression.html
http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&lang=de&searchLoc=0&cmpType...
http://www.ri.cmu.edu/projects/project_10.html
So I recommend either "facial expression" or "play of features".
cf.:
http://www.dict.cc/englisch-deutsch/facial expression.html
http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&lang=de&searchLoc=0&cmpType...
http://www.ri.cmu.edu/projects/project_10.html
-1
41 mins
Katarina Peters
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Specializes in field
Canada
Accuracy and A1 presentation
Native in: Hungarian 
, English (Variant: US)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Hungarian to English, and 13 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
mime performance
:)
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Paul Cohen
: Mime performance?!? No other explanation? As in: The prince stood up and performed for the court? And his silent (yet entertaining) movements were difficult to interpret? This must be a translation for ANOTHER fantasy novel!
5 hrs
|
|
you don't have to be so sarcastic...my suggestion was meant in a figurative sense, actually, between quotation marks...which the asker could have well picked up without any further explanation...and I think she has enough German knowledge for that...
|
4 hrs
poker face
Looks like a poor choice of German to me, but maybe this could fit?
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